Monel strings with magnet pickups

[pete1951]

I like the sound of a reso with a magnetic pickup and have used them on several guitars for some time. I thought I would try some heavy Monel strings 016-059( usually I use nickel) and find the B too loud.( or it could be the G too quiet)
Should I go back to nickel?

I thought of using a plain G but I think it would just move the ‘too loud’ problem to the G .

Pete

[snakehips]

Hi Pete,

I tried Martin Monel strings on one of my guitars with a Dearmond pickup (can't remember if it was the Rhythm Chief pickup, or the FHC pickup guitar).
I wasn't too impressed with the sound. "Regular" nickel-wound strings sounded much better - more alive.
The Monel strings sounded dull, amplified, to me anyway.

[bluesdude]

I use monel with the 210 DeArmond and mag pickups mixed with a mic for my Nationals and I solved that problem by using a flat-wound nickel for a G- string. Kinda sounds between a plain and a wound string,,,,,,,,,,,



Kenny

[pete1951]

Thanks for the quick replies. Might try a nickel G before changing all the strings ( happy with the acoustic tone)
Pete

[richclough]

Need a pickup that lets you change the polepieces for the two unwound strings - both my Krivo and Sixtus allow this. I use phos bronze generally.

[pete1951]

Yes, my hot plate has a Tele Style pickup ( which looks great but does not have easily adjusted poles) I had assumed that Monel would behave similar to nickel .

Never mind, I’m going to put a nickel wound 3rd on and see if the tone is ok with the bottom 3 Monel strings. I would like to keep the Tele pickup and could take it apart and slip a steel strip over the B pole piece( sixtus has a similar system to quite plain strings) I have nickel strings on other resos and am happy with the tone so might end up changing the whole set.
Pete

[ken1953clark]

Newtone sells PB electro acoustic strings where the 3rd is nickel plated (?) To balance the string volumes

[pete1951]

I think I’ll go back to nickel,
Pete

[Michael Messer]

Mar 2, 2023 10:14:11 GMT pete1951 said:

I think I’ll go back to nickel,
Pete

Nickel strings work perfectly with no jiggery pokery, they just work.

Shine On
Michael

[pete1951]

Have replaced the monel 3rd with an MM nickel, much better response. Have left the 4th5th and 6th monel strings on , the new Nickel is slightly brighter acoustically but not a massive difference.
Pete